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EAST LANSING – Connor Cook said it on "The Dan Patrick Show" on Thursday morning and again after practice in the evening — the Michigan State junior quarterback intends to return to school for his senior season.

"That's the main goal," Cook said Thursday. "I've always talked about it with my parents and stuff, and you want to use up your eligibility. Michigan State's a great place, and I've had a lot of fun here and I had a lot of great relationships. You never want to kiss stuff good-bye. I looked at it the same way as graduating high school early to come to school. You only have one prom, you only go to high school once, you only go to college once is how I look at it. But things could change if, you know, things go really well. I don't know. But my goal, my main priority is to use up my years here at Michigan State."

Some NFL analysts project Cook as a potential first-round pick in the next draft, but late in the ABC telecast of MSU's 35-11 win over Michigan, draft analyst Todd McShay was emphatic that Cook needs another season in college.

"I think he has a high ceiling," McShay said of Cook. "I think he can become a very good NFL quarterback. … I would say this to Connor Cook: You need another year. He's come a long way from a year ago. There's a reason why statistics back up underclassmen struggling when they leave early. He can be a good quarterback at the next level, but I think he needs one more year. Come back to Michigan State, there's a good supporting cast, this is the right place for him to be next season."

ABC color commentator and former Lions Chris Spielman then said on the broadcast: "There's no doubt about it, Todd, he has to come back. He's gonna improve everything. He's going to improve his chances of being a good NFL quarterback, he's going to improve his draft stock."

Cook left the door open on things going "really well." He was asked if the decision would be different if he were a sure top-10 pick.

Sadler was named a winner Thursday of one of the National Football Foundation's Scholar-Athlete Awards, which includes an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship. He is one of 17 members of this year's class — chosen from 169 semifinalists from all NCAA divisions and the NAIA — and that means he is also a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, given to the top scholar in college football.

Sadler, the first three-time Academic All-American in MSU history and seventh NFF scholar-athlete, already has a degree in applied engineering sciences, completed with a 3.97 grade-point average. He is pursuing his master's degree in public policy.

The class of 17 will be honored Dec. 9 in New York, where the Campbell Trophy winner will be announced.

■ ASSIST TO SPIELMAN: During the broadcast Saturday, Spielman did a segment illustrating how MSU running back Jeremy Langford was tipping off plays — scanning the field to find his blocking assignment before passes, looking straight ahead before runs. MSU coach Mark Dantonio said on his radio show Thursday that he heard of Spielman's comments at halftime and made sure Langford made corrections.